Portable storage shelving

ABSTRACT

A shelving assembly includes a pair of shelves having a first and second orientation relative to each other. The shelves nest together in the first orientation and stack together in the second orientation.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/802,704, which was filed May 23, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to shelving and more particularly to portable storage shelving that provides the ability to be stacked or nested.

Shelves are commonly used for storing goods while providing access to the goods in, for example, a consumer marketplace or other setting. Typically, the shelves are not easily portable once all the goods are removed and are inconveniently bulky to transport.

Therefore, there is a need for shelving that provides economic storage, easy access to goods, and that is also more convenient to transport when the goods are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An example shelving assembly includes a pair of shelves having a first and second orientation relative to each other. The shelves nest together in the first orientation and stack together in the second orientation.

In one example, there are a plurality of shelves that each include a floor and a plurality of hollow legs extending from the floor. The shelves nest together in a first orientation such that the hollow legs of one of the shelves are at least partially within the hollow legs of an immediately adjacent one of the shelves. The shelves stack together in a second orientation such that the hollow legs of the one shelf engage the floor of the immediately adjacent shelf.

An example method of employing a shelving assembly includes stacking a pair of shelves in one orientation relative to each other to provide storage space between the shelves, and nesting the pair of shelves in another orientation relative to each other to reduce the storage space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example shelving unit system in a nested position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the shelving system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of one of the shelves and a pallet.

FIG. 2B is a sectional view through the legs and the pallet of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 illustrates the shelving system in a stacked position.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged upper perspective view of the shelving system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the shelving system in the stacked position.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the shelving system with a plurality of objected stored thereon.

FIG. 5 is a top view of one of the shelves of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the shelf of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the shelf of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7A is a bottom view of the shelf of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7B is a bottom perspective view of the shelf of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified embodiment of the shelving system in a nested position.

FIG. 9 illustrates the shelving system of FIG. 8 in a stacked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example shelving system 20 including a plurality of shelves 22 in a nested position such that they form a compact arrangement that can be easily transported from one location to another. FIGS. 3, 3A, 4, and 4A show the shelves 22 in a stacked position that is suitable for storing and displaying goods.

Referring to FIG. 1, the example shelves 22 are identical to each other in shape and size, although it is conceivable that one or more of the shelves 22 might have one or more unique features that do not significantly impact the manner in which the shelves 22 nest and stack. The shelves 22 may each be integrally molded as a single piece from a plastic material.

Each shelf 22 includes a generally planar floor 24 for supporting goods that are stacked on the shelves when in the stacked position. In this example, each floor 24 includes ribbing 26 that provides structural reinforcement (additional ribs may be provided on the underside of the floor 24). The floor 24 in this example shelf is generally rectangular in shape and includes a plurality of hollow legs 28 that extend from the floor 24. In the illustrated nested position, the hollow legs 28 of each of the shelves 22 align such that the hollow legs 28 of stacked shelves 22 are nested within one another. When the shelves 22 are nested, the corners of the shelves 22 align with each other along the lines L₁, and the hollow legs 28 are received within each other.

Each of the shelves 22 also includes a recess 30 in the floor 24 adjacent each of the hollow legs 28. A tab 32 protrudes upwardly from each recess 30. Optionally, as shown, the recesses 30 in the middle row are narrower and do not include tabs 32. A pair of angled gussets 34 extend from each of the hollow legs 28 to support the floor 24 under the recess 30.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a bottom shelf 22 may be stacked on a pallet 38. The pallet 38 includes a top deck 39 having a plurality of recesses 40 formed therein. Each of the legs 28 is partially received within one of the recesses 40 in the top deck 39, to ensure proper location and to prevent movement. The top deck 39 is supported above the floor by a plurality of columns 41.

FIG. 2B is a sectional view through the legs 28 and the pallet 38. As shown, each of the legs 28 includes a distal end 42 into which is formed a blind opening 44 into which a locating projection 46 is received. The locating projection 46 protrudes upwardly from the bottom surface of each of the recesses 40 formed in the top deck 39. This further interlocks the legs 28 of the shelf 22 with the pallet 38 top deck 39.

FIGS. 3-4 show several of the shelves 22 in the stacked position on a pallet 38. For simplicity, only two shelves 22 are shown in the stacked position, but it is expected that more shelves 22 would usually be used. To arrange the shelves 22 in the stacked position, alternating shelves 22 are rotated 180°. For example, four shelves 22 would have relative orientations of 0°/180°/0°/180°. In the alternating orientation, the corners of the shelves 22 still align along the lines L₁, but the hollow legs 28 of any particular shelf 22 do not align with the hollow legs 28 of subjacent shelves 22. Instead, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the hollow legs 28 of the upper shelf 22 are received within the recesses 30 of the shelf 22 below it. The weight of the upper shelf 22 is transferred by the angled gussets 34 to the legs 28 of the shelf 22 below.

As shown in FIG. 4, in order to further limit movement between the shelves 22, the tabs 32 of the lower shelf 22 are received within blind openings 44 at the distal ends 42 of the hollow legs 28 of the upper shelf 22. In this manner, the hollow legs 28 are interlocked with the recesses 30 of the shelf 22 below and the shelves 22 provide a stable stacked position with space between the floors 24 of the shelves 22 for storing goods. The tabs 32 may optionally provide a friction fit and/or snap-fit with the blind openings 44.

FIG. 4A illustrates the shelving system 20 with a plurality of objects 60 stacked thereon. The objects 60 are supported on the floor 24 of each shelf 22 and on the pallet 38. The objects 60 can be shipped in the configuration shown in FIG. 4A, such as to a store for resale to consumers. The objects 60 can be displayed to the consumers in the store in the configuration of FIG. 4A. When all of the objects 60 are removed by the consumers, the empty shelves 22 can be nested as shown in FIG. 1 and returned to the warehouse for reuse. The nested shelves 22 occupy much less space and are therefore easier to store and ship.

FIG. 5 is a top view of one of the shelves 22. FIG. 6 is a side view of one of the shelves 22 and FIG. 7 is a front view of one of the shelves.

FIG. 7A is a bottom view of one of the shelves 22 and FIG. 7B is a bottom perspective view of the shelf 22. The shelf 22 includes a plurality of ribs 48 supporting the floor 24 of the shelf 22.

FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the shelving system 20′ in the nested position. In this example, the shelves 22 nest and stack as described above, however, the hollow legs 28 extend in an upward direction from the floor 24 rather than in a downward direction as shown in the previous examples. In this embodiment, each of the shelves 22 also includes dividers 56 that extend in the upward direction from the floor 24. The dividers 56 provide the benefit of spacing the goods apart from each other and maintaining the goods in rows on the shelves 22.

Each of the legs 28 includes an opening 54 in the distal end 42 to provide for the draining of liquids. The opening 54 could also be provided in the first embodiment.

In the disclosed example, each of the shelves 22 also includes a lip 58 on two opposing sides of the shelf 22. The lip 58 extends in an upward direction from the floor 24 to prevent goods from sliding off of the shelf 22 and to prevent any spilled liquids from dripping off the sides. The hollow legs 28 prevent the goods from sliding off the other sides. Alternatively, the lip 58 extends entirely around the perimeter of the floor 24. As can be appreciated, any of the examples discussed in this description may include one or more lips 58.

As can be appreciated from the above description and disclosed examples, the shelves 22 nest with each other when in a first orientation to provide a compact arrangement that can be conveniently transported from one location to another. However, in a second orientation when alternating shelves 22 are rotated 1800, the shelves 22 stack with each other to provide space for storing goods.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention. 

1. A shelving assembly comprising: a pair of shelves having a first and second orientation relative to each other, wherein the shelves nest together in the first orientation and stack together in the second orientation.
 2. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the shelves includes a floor and hollow legs extending from the floor.
 3. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the hollow legs extend upwards from the floor.
 4. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the hollow legs extend downwards from the floor.
 5. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of the hollow legs comprises a drain opening.
 6. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the floor comprises a lip extending upwards from the floor and extending at least partially about a periphery of the floor.
 7. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the shelves comprises an outer periphery, and the outer periphery of one of the shelves vertically aligns with the outer periphery of the other of the shelves in the first and second orientation.
 8. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the hollow legs of one of the shelves is at least partially within one of the hollow legs of the other of the shelves when the shelves are in the first orientation.
 9. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the hollow legs of one of the shelves engage the floor of the other shelf when the shelves are in the second orientation.
 10. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the shelves comprise a locking mechanism for securing the shelves together in the second orientation.
 11. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a tab extending from the hollow leg of one of the shelves or the floor of the other of the shelves, and an opening located on the other of the hollow leg of the one shelf or the floor of the other shelf for receiving the tab.
 12. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the floor of at least one of the shelves includes a recess directly adjacent at least one of the hollow legs, and the recess includes the tab or the opening.
 13. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pallet that locks to one of the shelves.
 14. The shelving assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the shelves comprise a 0°/0° arrangement in the first orientation, and a 0°/180° arrangement in the second orientation.
 15. A shelving assembly comprising: a plurality of shelves each having a floor and a plurality of hollow legs extending from the floor, wherein the shelves nest together in a first orientation such that the hollow legs of one of the shelves are at least partially within the hollow legs of an immediately adjacent one of the shelves, and the shelves stack together in a second orientation such that the hollow legs of the one shelf engage the floor of the immediately adjacent shelf.
 16. A method of employing a shelving assembly, comprising: (a) stacking a pair of shelves in one orientation relative to each other to provide storage space between the shelves; and (b) nesting the pair of shelves in another orientation relative to each other to reduce the storage space.
 17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said step (a) includes locking hollow legs of one of the shelves to a floor of the other shelf.
 18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said step (b) includes moving hollow legs of one of the shelves at least partially into hollow legs of the other shelves. 